This is definitely a book that requires an ugly cry. The bawling, snotty kind that no one wants to see. But also the kind that is so cathartic and soThis is definitely a book that requires an ugly cry. The bawling, snotty kind that no one wants to see. But also the kind that is so cathartic and so appreciated because the book was just that good....more
Wow. I’m so mad I waited until now to read ADDICTED TO YOU. I’m amazed at how different Lily’s perspective was from Rose’s in KISS THE SKY. I shouldn’Wow. I’m so mad I waited until now to read ADDICTED TO YOU. I’m amazed at how different Lily’s perspective was from Rose’s in KISS THE SKY. I shouldn’t be; Rose and Lily are as different as two sisters can be. I guess I assumed that because it was written by the same authors, it would sound somewhat similar. But where KISS THE SKY came across witty and intelligent just like Rose, ADDICTED TO YOU is so much darker and full of self-doubt (just like Lily). Krista and Becca Ritchie truly captured the voice of their characters and told the story exactly as the character would have told it.
Lily and Lo have created the perfect system to hide their addictions from the world. They use each other as their alibi to hide the parts of themselves that no one else wants to see. Lo is able to continue drinking without letting on just how dangerous his drinking has become and Lily can have as many one night stands as she needs without anyone calling her a slut or knowing how addicted she is to sex. Lily and Lo have carried on their pretend relationship for so long that the lines between pretending and real have started to blur and Lily isn’t sure she still wants the relationship to be pretend.
When Lily and Lo begin to add people to their inner circle, complications arise and the chance for discovery becomes much more likely. They must question if the crutch they provide for each other truly benefits the other person or if they are enabling themselves right into a shallow grave.
Just as I loved Rose and Connor’s perspective in KISS THE SKY and Daisy AND Ryke’s in HOTHOUSE FLOWER, I truly adored getting to know Lily and Lo in ADDICTED TO YOU. I quickly came to understand the depth of love and devotion they have for each other. Lily and Lo are in such a low, dark place in ADDICTED TO YOU and yet I can’t help but see just how beautiful they could be if only they could find a way to conquer their addictions. I’m so impressed with the three books I’ve read by Krista and Becca Ritchie and I can’t wait to read more. I’m really grateful that not onl as well to indulge in my new Ritchie addiction!
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
Everyone has their favorite book or series by a particular author, and the Falling series, this out of all the books I’ve read by Ginger Scott, isEveryone has their favorite book or series by a particular author, and the Falling series, this out of all the books I’ve read by Ginger Scott, is mine. I literally want to crawl up onto McConnell’s college campus and just watch the Preeter brothers, the Owens sisters, Rowe and Houston interact. I’m a big fan of not going overboard pursuing every character in a series just so the series can continue, but I can’t deny that I started watching each of Houston’s friends, wondering if any of them had the potential to be my next love interest so I didn’t have to say goodbye.
Paige is cold and harsh and she always has her eyes on the prize; no matter who she has to take down to get there. But Houston sees beyond her abrasive exterior and sees the brave girl who was born to lead and be her own hero. Just as Paige starts to let down her walls and let herself believe she might be worthy of Houston’s love, her past catches up with her and she has to choose between her own future and the futures of those she loves.
THE GIRL I WAS BEFORE made me laugh, made me cry, made me fall hard for Paige, Houston, and their love story. I couldn’t get enough of this amazing book that felt so comfortable, so familiar, and yet so special all at once. I loved the characters, loved the setting, loved how dimensional and real it all felt. The only moment I questioned for a minute was when Chandra got her dues—it seemed a little unbelievable how the story panned out in that moment but other than that, it was bliss. I give THE GIRL I WAS BEFORE a resounding 5 stars and hope every future book by Ginger Scott develops an equally phenomenal group of characters (no pressure or anything ;)).
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
Blissful frustration is how I’d describe my state of mind after finishing BURNED. Blissful because every moment of Karen Marie Moning’s Fae world isBlissful frustration is how I’d describe my state of mind after finishing BURNED. Blissful because every moment of Karen Marie Moning’s Fae world is epic and amazing and I can never get enough. Frustrated because I feel like I just went in a 360 degree turn. I’m basically at the exact same point as when I started BURNED. Did I learn a lot? Sure. Do I know more about Dani and the Nine? Absolutely. But basically it all just set the stage for what promises to be an amazing book #8. Dani is where she needs to be, which trust me, I needed, but I didn’t get any instant gratification and knowing it will be at least a year before I get to read FEVERBORN frustrates me to no end because I want it NOW!!!
BURNED starts off a little choppy because there are multiple perspectives, some from characters we don’t even know. Finally Mac takes over and finishes out the second half of the book while still exploring Dani, Ryodan, and even Barrons’ characters. It was interesting because even though the second half of the book was from Mac’s perspective, it really seemed to be from an objective point of view because it was clear the point was to further explore the other characters’ personalities, not Mac’s. In fact, I never felt as close to Mac in BURNED as I did in her five Fever books, almost as if I didn’t know her like I thought I did.
I’m eager to finally get to the meat of Dani and Ryodan in FEVERBORN. In fact, I’m so anxious I can hardly stand it. I will once again be on pins and needles waiting to see what Ms. Moning writes. Even though BURNED was equal parts wonderful and exasperating, I’m still amazed at the creativity and depth in this series. I can’t think of another series that is so involved and so well-developed. I’m blown away by Karen Marie Moning’s talent and in heady anticipation of her next book!
THIS IS FALLING. And I just fell something awful for this heartrending and heartwarming story of tragedy, growth, and love.
Rowe has been in hidingTHIS IS FALLING. And I just fell something awful for this heartrending and heartwarming story of tragedy, growth, and love.
Rowe has been in hiding for the last two years after a terrible incident left her scarred and hurting. Trauma from the incident leaves her in a constant battle to face her fears or remain in stasis indefinitely. Starting college is Rowe’s attempt to move on but she’s terrified of letting go of those she once valued the most. When Rowe meets Nate, he represents all she could gain by moving forward but also forces her to choose between her past and her future.
From the first page to the last, Ginger Scott had me captivated. Rowe’s internal battles were so real and raw and brought tears to my eyes more than once. Nate’s steadfastness and patience were such an amazing turn on—he couldn’t have been a better hero for this story. Rowe and Nate’s relationship was funny, sweet, and moved at just the right pace. From their first bouts of jealousy to the moment they had to decide if they could really be together, it was an amazing love story.
THIS IS FALLING was the kind of story I couldn’t get enough of and couldn’t put down. It reminded me of everything I liked about Ginger Scott’s writing in WAITING ON THE SIDELINES and GOING LONG and magnified my expectations for all future novels by her. I’m moving right into YOU AND EVERYTHING AFTER in the hopes of continuing on this book high.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
Is there anything more star-crossed than falling for your captor who takes you hostage and demands you stay with him until he crosses the MexicanIs there anything more star-crossed than falling for your captor who takes you hostage and demands you stay with him until he crosses the Mexican border? Possibly—but this is still pretty high up there. And what if to make matters worse it was your dad’s bank he robbed in the first place? Probably not the healthiest start to a successful relationship...
Wren doesn’t know a lot about healthy relationships though. She was violated by her stepfather at the age of 10 and has spent the remainder of her adolescence saying yes because it was simpler than saying no. All she’s ever really wanted is to be normal, to be liked, to feel like she’s living in the light instead of the shadows. But instead of life getting easier, it only gets more complicated when she’s taken as a hostage by Code and her life changes forever.
Code doesn’t really want the money or the diamonds he robbed the bank to get; he just wants freedom. So when the robbery goes tragically wrong, he’s suddenly not only dangerously close to losing all sense of freedom, he’s also got the sudden extra baggage of a feisty hostage to contend with.
The longer Wren and Code spend on the run together, the more they are drawn to each other despite their reservations and the more clearly they’re able to gain perspective on who they have become as individuals. I absolutely adored this love story. Code and Wren were ill-fated from the very beginning but it didn’t stop me from wanting them to somehow find a happily ever after together. The story was told from Code and Wren’s perspective, alternating by chapters, which was perfect in propelling the story forward and in allowing the reader to get to know both characters as the story progressed. Code and Wren’s time together was beyond sexy as Wren, who’d never enjoyed sex because of her earliest experiences, guiltily found out what turned her on. I couldn’t get enough of the magic that happened when the two of them came together. I loved the suspense of wondering if they’d get caught and the vulnerability both characters showed as their feelings for each other grew. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter romance or a better storyline. I was supremely impressed that the author didn’t drag out the story with a cliffhanger and in how she ended it.
I couldn’t get enough of HOSTAGE and wouldn’t mind another five just like it. It was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys New Adult, bad boys, or light captivity stories. It’s not dark like most abduction stories I read; instead it’s perfectly refreshing and lighthearted.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
**The version I read was an Advanced Reader Copy and had errors and some minor detail discrepancies. I anticipate this would be cleaned up prior to release date but felt it worth mentioning just in case. While I did notice these things, it did not in any way take away from the magic of the story for me. If the story sounds appealing to you, I would not let it deter you from snatching it up.
HATE TO LOVE YOU is the story of a young, broken girl who is faced with grown up issues way before her time and the long, difficult road that herHATE TO LOVE YOU is the story of a young, broken girl who is faced with grown up issues way before her time and the long, difficult road that her mistakes take her down. It’s told with an embellished, over-the-top flair that can only be told by someone who refuses to take themselves too seriously and the result is nothing short of amazing.
Paisley was born to two parents who thought she would be the glue that would finally heal their disjointed family. But if Paisley was the answer to their prayers, that meant their firstborn Caroline was the mistake that broke their family in the first place and Caroline couldn’t handle that. Out of jealousy and spite, Caroline devised a series of lies that shamed and isolated Paisley when she should have been protected and defended.
Being violated and then rebuked leads Paisley down a road of drugs and self-destruction. When she meets Caroline’s fiancé James, a combination of an undeniable attraction, anger at Caroline’s never-ending cruelty, and too much alcohol causes her to throw caution to the wind and embrace one night of a better life, even if it’s by pretending to be her sister. When she’s faced with overwhelming desperation at her newest predicament, Paisley makes a rash proclamation at Caroline’s wedding that changes her, James’, and her unborn baby’s lives forever. Seven years later, Paisley is still living with the consequences of her revelations and she sets out to reclaim what’s hers.
I loved every second of Paisley’s difficult journey—from the severity of her broken family to how unabashedly immature she was at the beginning of the story to the indulgent exaggerations of the story. James was alpha male to his core and I loved his every word, thought, and action. He was Paisley’s desperately needed knight in shining armor and he loved her, scars and all. Paisley made some unforgivable choices but she was also dealt a really unfair hand of cards. Some people might find Paisley’s mind reading or her pregnant virgin status too much but I thought Paisley’s personality itself was brash and flamboyant so those parts of her story fit in and added extra pizzazz to an already stellar story.
I could read about James and Paisley’s love story forever. HATE TO LOVE YOU is one of those books where I never wanted it to end but I couldn’t put it down. It’s the reason I love to read—for those books that capture me in their story and don’t let go even after I’ve finished.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
From the cover to the content to the characters, LOVELINES was the perfect combination of a sweet and sometimes heartbreaking romance. I laughed,From the cover to the content to the characters, LOVELINES was the perfect combination of a sweet and sometimes heartbreaking romance. I laughed, cried, and fell in love with Reece, Bailey, and their journey.
Bailey has been dealing with her OCD since childhood. Not the cutesy eccentric habits kind of OCD, but real and true diagnosed OCD. Her life is ruled by schedules, counting, and routines. When she meets Reece, he helps her fight some of those tics, but she knows one day it will all blow up in her face. She’s had too many failed relationships when the guy couldn’t deal with her neuroses to believe there’s any alternative.
Reece is the perfect hero. He is just imperfect enough to be believable and yet perfect enough to be swoon-worthy. He makes mistakes, but at the end of the day he truly loves Bailey, tics and all. In fact, he thinks all the things that drive everyone else crazy about Bailey are cute. He wouldn’t even attempt to help her improve if he didn’t know it was the right thing to do. He’s lived a life full of broken promises but he’s determined that his relationship with Bailey will be his first to break the mold.
When the inevitable happens and tragedy strikes, Bailey finds herself drowning in her disorder. She is determined not to bring Reece down with her, even if it breaks her heart in the process.
There truly wasn’t one thing I would change about LOVELINES. Bailey was flawed and insecure and yet she had a heart of gold and a desire to live and to love. Reece was this broken, amazing man who I just wanted to wrap up and cuddle. He was so patient with Bailey and yet he loved her so passionately that he could lash out in a fit of emotions and pain. He didn’t always handle her OCD the way he should, but who would? Nobody is perfect and that’s what I loved about LOVELINES. It embraces the imperfections in humans and makes us fall in love with them anyway. It was told in a very unique perspective, alternating between a first-person narrative whenever Bailey was narrating but switching to third-person when told from Reece’s point-of-view. While I’m usually very picky about perspectives and it can be a deal breaker for me, I thought the way S. Walden wrote it worked. It made me pause a few times, but it didn’t remove me from the story or break up the flow.
Anyone who reads LOVELINES will get sucked into the storyline and the romance. I couldn’t get enough and I’m excited to read the other books in the series. It promises to be an interesting series, each involving different characters, and S. Walden promises to be an author to watch out for. If the three books I’ve read by her are any indication, she is here to stay and to make a name for herself. I’m just excited to get to experience her magic as it happens.
**Haha – guess what?!? After writing my review, I realized there had been an update—to the cover and to the series. It’s no longer a series though there will be a separate, stand-alone book that S. Walden intends to write at a later date. Apparently the original cover (which I loved because it so perfectly embodied Beboppin’ Bailey and Reece and who they were as a couple) didn’t translate to the author’s image as a writer of tough, taboo topics. I started reading S. Walden for her taboo subject matter and so in hindsight, I can see why the new cover will better translate to her target audience. It’s more like a cover I would pick up if I weren’t familiar with the author. As I am familiar with S. Walden, however, I will pick up her books regardless of the cover.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review. **Reviewed by preppea on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews.
5 Refreshing and Completely Different Series Stars
I can’t get over how different the Calloway Sisters series is from others I’ve read. While each 5 Refreshing and Completely Different Series Stars
I can’t get over how different the Calloway Sisters series is from others I’ve read. While each standalone book focuses on a different sister, Krista and Becca Ritchie still carefully maintain the personalities that make each character so special. HOTHOUSE FLOWER may be Daisy and Ryke’s story, but Lily and Loren and Rose and Connor are still very present and very real throughout the book. Just because this isn’t their story, they don’t become flat characters—they are still very much fleshed out and distinctly alive.
While readers are not required to have read Lily’s Addicted books before starting HOTHOUSE FLOWER, they are supposed to have read KISS THE SKY (Rose and Connor’s story). I would strongly recommend that as well, since some of Daisy’s traumatic experiences start in KISS THE SKY. Also, I think it’s really helpful to get to know Rose and Connor individually before trying to understand their dynamic as a couple.
Despite being introverted and quiet, Lily has required the majority of her family’s attention recently. Her sex addiction put the Calloway sisters in a new level of limelight and Daisy became an adult while living under the media’s scrutinizing magnifying glass. Ryke seemed to be the only one who could keep up with Daisy’s wild and energetic personality and as the only other single person in their group of six, became the obvious choice for Daisy’s protector. But as much as the Calloways relied on Ryke to look after Daisy, there was always one understood rule. He could never fall for her. But Daisy isn’t a child anymore and lately she’s been suffering the repercussions of growing up too quickly, and no one in her family seems to realize just how bad it’s gotten for her. Daisy goes to extreme measures to make sure she’s always the positive, light sister so no one sees the darkness hidden underneath. Ryke is the only one she never lies to, and the only one who knows just how scared she is.
If Ryke doesn’t put himself out there for Daisy, she may not survive. But if he does, he could lose his brother forever. HOTHOUSE FLOWER is so much more than just a story about Ryke and Daisy; it’s the story of all the Calloway sisters. But first and foremost, it is Ryke and Daisy’s love story—and wow, was it a hot one. I always knew I’d love Ryke with his dark, brooding looks and filthy mouth. But I never knew just how much he hid beneath that sexy exterior and I loved every inch of it. I loved his complicated relationship with Lo and the pain he felt from his relationship with his parents. Most of all, I loved his passion and devotion to Daisy. And while I have next to nothing in common with Daisy, I loved experiencing her side of the story and her inner struggles. Don’t miss this amazingly well-written series and these unique and entertaining characters.
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
David Who? I thought I loved David Ferris but now I have eyes only for Mal Ericson. *Drool*
The Stage Dive series is the perfect musician series.David Who? I thought I loved David Ferris but now I have eyes only for Mal Ericson. *Drool*
The Stage Dive series is the perfect musician series. Nothing cheesy. Nothing overly dramatic. Just delicious, delirious amazingness.
Anne has a problem with boundaries. She’s so loyal to those she loves that she doesn’t know how to put her foot down and say no. Which is why she finds herself stranded by her roommate and only days away from being evicted from her apartment. Her neighbor, Lauren, who also happens to be best friends with David Ferris’ new wife Evelyn, drags her to a party after Anne’s world is tilted upside down. Not just any party, a party thrown by the members of Stave Dive, the world famous rock band. Mal overhears Anne’s problems and decides that he and Anne need each other. He needs a fake girlfriend, she needs a new roommate; it’s a win/win situation for all involved. So long as Anne can remember to keep her heart out of the picture, that is.
Mal is the perfect embodiment of a drummer. He’s loud, hilarious, and bounces from mood to mood in seconds. He’s adorable and lovable and so damn funny. He literally had me keeled over in hysterics. He is just so perfect. Part of his perfection is that he’s not always fun. He’s also got a brooding, serious side that he doesn’t want anyone to see. He’s the guy who keeps the peace, not the guy who shares his feelings. Which suits Anne just fine because she’s got some serious baggage she has no interest in sharing either.
I loved that as opposed to Evelyn and David’s story in LICK, Anne not only knew who Mal was, she’d had a childhood crush on him. He has always been her dream guy and so in rooting for her and Mal to work out, it’s like the reader is able to believe that if she can do it, anyone could. The story was hilarious yet touching, hot and romantic. Kylie Scott blended erotic scenes seamlessly with sidesplitting scenes. That combined with her fully fleshed out characters is what makes the Stage Dive series my new favorite rock star series. And did I mention tattoos? They have those too - it’s almost too perfect for words!
If you love sexy musicians, tattoos, and sweetly romantic guys, you will devour PLAY and the entire Stage Dive series!
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
I know I shouldn’t love this as much as I do. But there’s just something about captivity stories that just hit the right spot for me. It’s dark andI know I shouldn’t love this as much as I do. But there’s just something about captivity stories that just hit the right spot for me. It’s dark and wrong and yet in removing all control it’s also just so hot. Especially HERO—this story had the perfect combination of the wrong thing for the right reasons that made me able to love it even as I hated it, crave it even as I rebuked it.
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Cataline lost her parents when she was very young and she’s had only the bare minimum ever since. A roof over her head, but no love. Food in her stomach, but no shoulder to lean on. As soon as she turns 18, she leaves her foster family without a look back and moves to New Rhone. She is still under the radar, still alone, but at least it’s by her own rules. She has a great friend and roommate, Frida, and a gorgeous boss that she fantasizes about. She imagines that behind his cold exterior there’s a loving man just waiting to be let out.
One day walking home from work, Cataline is abducted and her life is forever turned upside down. She finds herself in a mansion, where she’s given everything she could ask for so long as she never leaves and asks no questions. A gilded cage that she can’t break. When she finally meets her abductor, he’s not who or what she imagined. He wants nothing from her yet won’t tell her why she can’t leave.
HERO was the perfect story. A standalone that answered all my questions instead of dragging out the story into three parts, it was perfect in content and length. I loved the dual point-of-views. I was shocked that Leighton Del Mia was able to tell parts of the story from Calvin’s point of view without revealing his secrets before it was time. It was a sexy, forbidden, twisted love story and I reveled in the suspense of not knowing what would happen.
HERO is the perfect dark, erotic romance and if you like having your boundaries pushed and feeling conflicted emotions towards the hero, you will adore this story!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
What an amazingly different approach to writing a love story! I fell in love through flashbacks while simultaneously experiencing all of the confusionWhat an amazingly different approach to writing a love story! I fell in love through flashbacks while simultaneously experiencing all of the confusion and fear Amy felt as she battled her missing memories!
Amy comes out of a coma with amnesia and though the doctor anticipates her memories returning, there is no way to tell when or how they’ll return. She’s lost two years worth of memories and suddenly she’s on the outs with her parents and living with a man she doesn’t know. Her entire life is thrown upside down. Her best friend and parents insist Adam loves her, but when Amy’s dreams give her glimpses of their past, there’s so much hurt and fear in each of the memories that she can’t reconcile who she’s supposed to love with the man before her. Amy can’t understand how she became the person she sees in the mirror. Two years ago her life had been on an entirely different course and she doesn’t even recognize the types of clothes in her closet, much less the person she supposedly became.
Part of what I thought was so great about REMEMBERING US was the mystery of not knowing if Adam was who everyone said he was. Add to that Amy’s parents’ shockingly distant treatment of her when she’s lost and scared and I didn’t know who to believe.
Stacey Lynn did such an amazing job of keeping the story in present time while allowing the reader to experience Amy’s past through dreams and fall in love just the way she must have. Adam is full of secrets and pain and I could completely feel both his frustration at Amy’s reaction to him as well as her terror to trust someone she doesn’t remember. I found the entire story remarkable and yet believable. It was full of pain and hurt, yet at the same time passion and love that doesn’t let go or give up. I am in awe of Stacey Lynn’s art and this amazing masterpiece of a story.
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
Oh my. What an amazingly different book. First of all, the initial interactions Linden had with Cyril were so hot I had actual dreams about them.Oh my. What an amazingly different book. First of all, the initial interactions Linden had with Cyril were so hot I had actual dreams about them. *Fanning self* Talk about making my imagination run wild. Cyril was this awful caveman of a man at the beginning but the pull between him and Linden was undeniable and beyond explanation.
Cyril doesn’t remember Linden at all but he can sense his blood in her and that tells him she has somehow stolen from him in the past. He’d kill her for the betrayal if only he weren’t so drawn to her. The reader is left in the dark as much as Cyril—Linden remembers their first encounters vividly but we only get small pieces of information from her. We know that they shared something special, tender, and real and the rest is a mystery that Linden is not willing to share with the new and angrier Cyril. This is where the prequel novella comes in handy because in the novella Cyril was very clear that he’d been drawn to one particular woman all his life and one of his biggest fears was one day being reborn and not remembering her after his death. We find out that he is a paranormal being that is more than human and that he lives many lives, returning after each death with some but not all of his memories. He explains that after each death he doesn’t choose what memories he comes back with and which ones are lost forever.
Finally, gloriously, Cyril tricks Linden into a vulnerable situation and he is able to read her mind and explore her memories. The reader, along with Cyril, finally gets to uncover the history they shared. Now we get to experience not only the sexy caveman that is the current Cyril but the amazing, gentle Cyril that Linden knew and fell in love with ten years ago.
Of course, this is a paranormal story and as such has a villain trying to murder the powerful Cyril and thus begins a very action-filled plot that must be continued in book #2. I did have a few bones to pick with some of the action scenes near the end of the story but I so loved the interaction between Cyril and Linden that I will be first in line to see where Ms. Mason takes them in the next book in the series. I read SYMPHONY OF LIGHT AND WINTER quickly and ravenously and found it to be all-consuming and absolutely delicious.
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
A Cliffhanger? A CLIFFHANGER? How did I miss this? How did I get to 99% and still not have a clue until I saw the word “acknowledgements”? I swear ifA Cliffhanger? A CLIFFHANGER? How did I miss this? How did I get to 99% and still not have a clue until I saw the word “acknowledgements”? I swear if it hadn’t been the middle of the night and my husband hadn’t been sleeping beside me I would have been doing this…
Sara Wolf solidified herself in my mind with LOVELY VICIOUS as an author to watch. I’d read the first two books in her ARRANGED series and thoroughly enjoyed the characters—but LOVELY VICIOUS was a step above. Sara Wolf combines hilarious humor and witty dialogue for a story that had me constantly alternating between rolling on the floor laughing and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
I’m desperate for friends, not socially suicidal. There’s a fine, pathetic line between the two and I’m toeing it like a ballet dancer at her first recital.
It’s light green and rusted, with a broken headlight and soda cans littering the floor, but it does its job of letting everyone know I’m poor and that’s really all I ask from a car.
“No. Unlike you, I have a life to attend to. I can’t afford to waste my time arguing the fine points of what makes you an idiot.”
Isis is a walking contradiction. Her self-esteem is 10 notches below sea level yet she speaks with confidence, snark, and self-deprecating witticism that keeps even the most popular kids in school engaged. She has a heart of gold and will do anything, including punching a guy and making his life hell, to protect someone she cares about. She’s convinced she will never, ever experience love or intimate relationships personally, but even in her lowest moments she fights to stay positive and strong. She is observant, smart, and can run circles around most of the kids her age.
Jack is an enigma. No one knows him. He is the ice prince of the school and refuses to lower himself to even acknowledge others at his school, yet everyone wants to know him, be with him. Something about Isis forces him to fight back and engage when he’s accustomed to blocking it all out. They are equals in intelligence and observation. He is a mystery in so many ways. A knight in shining armor for a girl named Sophia, the reader can tell there might be a heart buried under all that ice but he also has a dark past that hints at danger and violence. My favorite thing about Jack was that he wasn’t just the typical jerk and as soon as you got to know him, you saw his cold personality hid a well-kept secret and a heart of gold. He is committed to his role as asshole/ice prince and doesn’t deviate – it will truly take someone special to cross the Grand Canyon that is the defensive moat around his heart.
Most importantly, Isis can’t take another heartbreak, so no matter how intriguing Jack might be, I was so terrified to see her get hurt again. Not all secrets are revealed in the first book in the Vicious series and certainly not all wounds are mended and I am in giddy anticipation of SAVAGE DELIGHT!
LOVELY VICIOUS is a great book for anyone who likes a strong heroine who won’t let anyone silence her. I can’t imagine anyone not falling in love with Isis’ incredible personality and witty, snarky humor....more
Get ready to be conflicted while you fall madly in love with the forbidden love story in GOOD!
Cadence has been a good girl her whole life—doingGet ready to be conflicted while you fall madly in love with the forbidden love story in GOOD!
Cadence has been a good girl her whole life—doing everything her parents and her Christian upbringing told her to do. But one night of wanting to fit in and impress a boy resulted in a ten-month stint in juvenile detention. While cleaning the side of a highway in her bright orange jumpsuit, she meets a gorgeous hipster fixing his flat tire who in that brief encounter treats her like a real and desirable person rather than a criminal. Of course, she never expects to see him again and certainly not on her first day back to school as her high school Calculus teacher.
Besides the fact that GOOD was utterly entertaining and an absolute page-turner, there were so many other things I enjoyed about this book.
It didn’t apologize or make excuses for its content. Cadence wasn’t held back in school and so conveniently an 18-year-old. She was 17. Mark (Mr. Connelly) isn’t a 22-year-old brand new teacher fresh out of college; he’s 28. The two didn’t meet and spend a significant amount of time together before finding out each other’s ages or that they’d be in a teacher/student relationship; they had one brief run-in for a few minutes on the side of a highway. Mr. Connelly doesn’t fight his better judgment for months before finally giving in; he pursues Cadence. So the reader has to decide if they can accept the real, raw circumstances.
Cadence is in a weakened position when she sees Mr. Connelly at school. She feels bullied, abandoned, and more than anything, lonely. Mr. Connelly is in a position of authority and knows that Cadence is desperate for love and acceptance, something she isn’t finding at school or at home. Is he taking advantage of her weakened state to prey on her? As I’ve heard Dr. Phil say on many occasions, at her age is Cadence capable of giving consent? I loved every controversial second of GOOD, even while I questioned it.
I loved that I could completely relate to Cadence as a high schooler. I was once that teenager trying to reconcile the ideals I’d been raised to believe from a lifetime of youth group, church, parents, and school with the reality I was living and the desires I had. I got her—all of her. She is unapologetically 17/18: sheltered, innocent, sometimes immature. And Mark/Mr. Connelly likes that about her. She even calls him Mr. Connelly in her thoughts when she’s at school—something that made me wonder about how she viewed him. To me, calling him Mr. Connelly in her head implied that she saw him as an adult, an authority figure, her teacher.
And yet, despite all of that, despite my misgivings that I never quite let go of, I loved Mark. I wanted him with Cadence. I didn’t want them to be forced apart. I didn’t want them to get caught. I didn’t want him to lose his job or get prosecuted for his actions with a minor (although according to Georgia Law this would not be considered statutory rape anyway, but I was unclear about that going into the story and so worried regardless).
Even Mark’s internal conflict is clear by some of his actions during the story—he was worried about being the one to teach her certain things sexually, had guidelines in place for what he wouldn’t do with her before she turned 18, etc. I doubt those things would save him in the court of public opinion if they were found out, but it seemed to be how he was able to feel okay with their relationship. And he does show her love when no one else does. And care when she’s so desperate for it. She needs him and he truly seems to love and cherish her: all of her. The young girl. The girl who makes mistakes. The girl who sometimes reacts like a high school girl would. He loves all those things. And I in turn loved him.
I would highly recommend GOOD to anyone who feels like they could have an open mind when it comes to forbidden love. I couldn’t put this book down and I’m diving head first into BETTER, the second and final book in this series.
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
I don’t believe in love at first sight. With people, anyway. Books, now that’s another story. With books, I feel like I can pick out a 5 star readI don’t believe in love at first sight. With people, anyway. Books, now that’s another story. With books, I feel like I can pick out a 5 star read within the first chapter. There’s just a feeling, a chemistry, a way the author has of reeling you in and before you even know what the story is about you know you’re in for the long haul. That’s what THE EDGE OF DARKNESS did to me. I didn’t even know what had happened to Araya, what made her different but I knew I wanted to find out, knew I had to follow her around and see what happened.
Araya had an amazing life ahead of her, she’d been accepted into Julliard at a young age and the sky was the limit. All that changed when a terrible accident killed her mom and left her with scars that changed everything and stole her dancing career. She was forced to live with a heartless aunt who despised her and kept her trapped in their home, making her feel like she was worthless and a burden. All that changed the day she met Ryland. Ryland didn’t see her weaknesses; he saw her strengths.
A boy from a privileged but cold and ruthless home, he has his own demons to bear but despite his aversion to any kind of commitment, he never wavered in his consideration for Araya. I LOVED that from the very beginning he was always thinking of what would benefit her in the long run, how he should treat her that would help her versus hinder her. He never went for the easier path or the faster one; he just walked beside her and encouraged her. I thought he showed amazing wisdom and heart for such a young man and especially one with the childhood he’d had.
I was on pins and needles for every second of this book, partially I think because I knew there was a sequel so I knew it couldn’t just have a happily ever after and partially because it was just that perfect combination of light and darkness in the book that had me exuberant and aching all at once. I loved every dark, sad, hopeful second of THE EDGE OF DARKNESS and I’m jumping immediately into THE GRACE IN DARKNESS to see what happens to Ryland and Araya next. I’d recommend this heart-wrenching and beautiful book to absolutely everyone but trust me when I say be prepared to read the books back-to-back; your sanity won’t have it any other way!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
Well, after that mean prologue had me on pins and needles for the entire book, I should really consider lowering my… Who am I kidding? Melissa AndreaWell, after that mean prologue had me on pins and needles for the entire book, I should really consider lowering my… Who am I kidding? Melissa Andrea just threw me all over the place and turned me into a wreck and I’m still going to give her 5 stars and ask her for more. Perhaps a book about Araya’s friend, Makayla??? Or Sebastian??? Or Makayla AND Sebastian? Just call me a glutton for punishment! I loved it all. In entirety. Exactly the way it was.
Here’s where I talk about the book in detail so if you haven’t read THE EDGE OF DARKNESS, do not read this review. You can read my review of THE EDGE OF DARKNESS instead and then start with that book.
THE EDGE OF DARKNESS ended with Ryland finding Araya but not revealing himself because he wants to give her the space she requested to prove she can be independent. But the ever-scheming J.D. can’t leave well enough alone and arranges for Ryland and Araya to run into each other in the hopes that Ryland will be forced to let Araya go once and for all. Luckily, Ryland and Araya don’t give him that satisfaction and their reunion is passionate, heated, and everything I needed it to be.
What I love about the way Melissa Andrea wrote the Darkness Duet is that even though you know there’s going to be turmoil and obstacles, she doesn’t use any of the twists you’d expect. I’d assume something was going to happen and she’d do something entirely different which left me constantly guessing. But in addition to keeping me on my toes, she kept Ryland and Araya out of it—meaning there was a lot of drama but it usually wasn’t either of them causing it. Ryland didn’t throw unnecessary fits and storm off and Araya didn’t play the wounded girlfriend card. I could rely on Ryland to be the constant, amazing guy Araya deserved and Araya didn’t just throw tantrums to get Ryland’s attention. She was open and she communicated her feelings and they were never in the dark with each other, they always knew where the other stood. I loved that. It can get so tiresome to feel like I’m reading the same fight with different characters. I like knowing that for once the bad guy isn’t going to be able to get to the main characters simply because they didn’t say what they were really thinking and he wormed his way in while they let misunderstandings separate them.
J.D. proved in THE GRACE IN DARKNESS that there were no lines he wouldn’t cross to get his way and he really pushed Ryland and Araya to the limits. He really didn’t care who he ruined but because Ryland and Araya never lost focus of who their enemy was, they always had the united front that could save them in the end. Their love story was beautiful and heartwarming and everything I hoped it would be and I loved every second of it! Melissa Andrea has earned herself a new fan and I’ll definitely be checking out anything else she writes!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
This exciting new take on paranormal romance deserves a resounding 5 stars and a frustrated scream that HYBRID isn't expected out until 2014!
Who forgot to tell me this was part of a series? Now I’m supposed to WAIT for book #2? Come on!!!! What are you doing to me, Ms. Toler? I need the rest of Aldo’s story and I need it YESTERDAY!
Please don’t let my ranting deter you – while there is a slight cliffhanger, HEALER is still a complete story. It’s just that it’s so freaking good that I really want to know what happens!!!!
Get ready to be on the edge of your seat and in the dark for 90% of the book. The reader follows Aldo as she tries to reconcile what she’s been told growing up about her special abilities with what she learns along the way. The beginning of HEALER goes back and forth between the past (when Aldo is 17 turning 18 and meets another healer named Thomas, the first she’s met outside of her family) and her present, where she’s searching for Thomas. Aldo has a special ability to help people who are sick, hurt, or close to death by pulling energy from a healthy person and transferring this energy into the person who is hurt. She never takes life, only helps heal those who aren’t meant for death yet. For most of her life, she’s been in hiding; moving every few years from those who would use her powers for bad, though who these people are she doesn’t know. But her aunt tells her they must be careful and she complies. Meeting Thomas changes everything for Aldo though, and she’s forced to decide who to trust: her family or her heart.
I was torn right alongside Aldo as she tries to understand what Thomas isn’t saying versus what others do say. Right when I’m sure I’ve figured a few things out, along comes Rhett, a gorgeous and mysterious man who has his own opinions about what Aldo should believe and who she should trust.
B.N. Toler does an amazing job of mixing the past and the present and keeping us in the dark without needlessly frustrating the reader. I was dying to know what was going on but it only made me unable to put the book down. I was swept up in the story, the characters, and I am in giddy anticipation of what will come in HYBRID. I only hope it comes fast because I need to know what happens to everyone I’ve come to love!!!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
BETWIXT is a perfect combination of supernatural young adult and straight up incredible 5 star read.
Nicole has spent the last few years surroundingBETWIXT is a perfect combination of supernatural young adult and straight up incredible 5 star read.
Nicole has spent the last few years surrounding herself with people too shallow to bother getting to know the real her. This is just how she wants it and all she can handle after a tragedy turned her life upside down and made her hate the real her. What starts as a typical Tuesday night quickly turns south when she isn’t in the mood to pretend with her boyfriend and finds herself abandoned far from home. What’s worse, while trying to get home she gets hit by a car and left for dead.
Nicole wakes up back in her bed and can’t remember any of the events from the night before. But when she realizes no one can see or hear her, she knows she’s lost more than just one night’s memories. She soon discovers there IS one person who can hear her, but isn’t too pleased to find out it’s the loner she ridiculed in front of the whole school and dubbed Scarface, a nickname that unfortunately stuck.
I loved the interaction between Nicole and Dale as they try to figure out what happened to her and where to find her body before it’s too late. They were funny, tender, and most importantly, believable. I was biting my nails worried they wouldn’t find her in time (especially given all the time they had to spend in school instead of out searching) and rooting for their relationship to evolve into something more. Having already read BEFORE, a BETWIXT novella and prequel, I knew Dale’s history which only added to his character.
I think I should mention that when I read BEFORE, I rated it 4 stars—but with the understanding that I didn’t really have enough information to determine if the series would go up or down from there. It really could have gone either way and I wasn’t so attached that I was desperate to read the next book. But, wow, am I glad I did. It far exceeded my expectations. I’m also glad I read the books in the correct order even though BETWIXT can be read as a stand-alone. I can pretty much guarantee once you’ve read BETWIXT, you’ll want to go back and read Dale’s backstory if you didn’t already.
BETWIXT is a solid, fantastic young adult romance and I’d recommend it to ANY readers who enjoy young adult or the supernatural—you won’t be disappointed!
I also think it’s pretty incredible and should be noted that for every copy of BETWIXT sold, Melissa Pearl will donate $1 to Love146, a charity that works toward the abolition of child sex trafficking and exploitation through advocacy, prevention, and aftercare. What an amazing and generous contribution.
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
SEARCHING FOR SOMEDAY is a refreshing contemporary romance with a charming magic twist.
Kate and her two best friends have built a solid matchmakingSEARCHING FOR SOMEDAY is a refreshing contemporary romance with a charming magic twist.
Kate and her two best friends have built a solid matchmaking business by utilizing each of their individual talents and skill sets. One of Kate’s most unique talents is her ability to sense love matches simply by touching the individuals. But when she realizes her own soul mate is a divorce attorney who doesn’t believe in true love or marriage, she’s convinced her touch has gotten it wrong. Kate and Slade do everything in their power to deny the connection they share, but the closer they get, the harder it is to ignore.
Ordinarily I would say I’m too practical to enjoy magic unless its of the paranormal variety, but Jennifer Probst seemed to know just how to introduce something outside the realm of ordinary without making it corny or unbelievable. It still rang true to the story and to the characters and only added to the undeniability of their connection. Slade was the perfect combination of stubborn, opinionated, take charge, and alpha male. I loved how he could be so fierce and stern yet he’d be so reckless in his feelings for Kate. Every time he showed up at her door unannounced, I swooned. I was a little worried Ms. Probst would go too far in her efforts to introduce secondary characters in an attempt to build interest for future books in the series, but somehow she managed to straddle the line just enough to make the story more three dimensional without going overboard. I was unable to put SEARCHING FOR SOMEDAY down until I’d had my happily ever after and it made me want to read more in the series just to get another taste.
SEARCHING FOR SOMEDAY was such an endearing romantic story with a chick-lit feel and I would highly recommend diving into the Searching For series!
**Complimentary copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
I knew going into PANIC that there were certain things I could expect. I would love the heckEnter to win it on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews 10/26-10/31
I knew going into PANIC that there were certain things I could expect. I would love the heck out of Ronin and Rook. I might love a little too much out of Ford. And Rook might get spooked and shock us all. What I didn’t expect? Ninety percent of what actually happened in PANIC. It was so much better than anything I expected (and mind you I rated the last two books 5 stars so I feel like I expected a lot). I am simultaneously jealous of everyone who gets to experience it for the first time and fangirl dancing because I got to read it early!
Rook moves up to Fort Collins to begin her stint as Shrike’s errand girl. She’s devastated to be leaving Ronin behind as he’s busy managing the new Gidget contract but at least she has her friends Spencer and Ford to keep her company. Only Ford, well, he never just keeps his mouth shut and he’s always surprising her, so he throws her for a couple loops that have her head spinning. She’s also struggling through some of her required classes at the local community college which makes her wonder if she’s even equipped for this whole college degree goal. Add to that the fact that Claire is a big part of the Gidget contract and always a source of jealousy for Rook and you pretty much understand some of the stress going on in Rook’s head.
The best part? All of that is just groundwork for the crazy rug that J.A. Huss has been getting us all on—just so she could pull it out from under us! Because everything we knew about Rook, well, that wasn’t even half of it. And all the things we wondered about the cons Ronin, Ford, and Spencer used to run? Get ready because we get a whole lot more information on how those worked and who did what.
J.A. Huss literally gave me everything I’d begged for, hoped for, and then she gave me so much more. PANIC was suspenseful and exciting. It had passionate moments between Rook and Ronin that had me highlighting huge paragraphs.
I want you to fight for us, Rook. You never want to fight for us, you just want to walk away whenever it gets hard. And dammit, this is not hard, Rook. This life we’re living right now is fucking paradise. So how will you act when the shit gets out of control? Will you just leave me when I need you most? Because I’d never leave you. I hope you know that, Rook. I’d never walk out. I’d fight for you every single time. You’d never even have to wonder if I’d be there because I’d show the fuck up before that thought could ever cross your mind.
It had Rook growing, Ronin despairing, and Ford revealing more and less than ever. To be honest, I think I highlighted half the book. And the best part of all? The thing that has me so grateful because honestly I couldn’t fathom leaving Rook, Ronin, or any of the team alone after just three books? Ford is getting his own book in January of 2014. Squeeeee! And then, later, Spencer. *Insert high pitched squeals here*
It’s midnight and I’m still in last night’s pajamas. Too much information? Sorry. But this story was epic. The “leave me alone, don’t interrupt, I’mIt’s midnight and I’m still in last night’s pajamas. Too much information? Sorry. But this story was epic. The “leave me alone, don’t interrupt, I’m not leaving this couch until I finish, I’m sorry husband but you’re going to have to figure out what to do with these toddlers because if it involves me putting this book down It’s. Not. Going. To. Happen.” kind of book. It just was. I did brush my teeth. But that’s about it.
Can any of us even fathom what it would be like to spend NINE YEARS in captivity? To have sex daily with a drug lord and watch other girls get tortured, raped, abused, killed? To have survival instincts set in so deeply that you teach your body to respond a certain way when your captor touches you, to not shed a tear as girls you care for are tortured or killed in front of you? This is Sarai’s life. The only one she knows. And despite teaching herself to close off her emotions and act with skills that should earn her an Oscar, she doesn’t waste her first opportunity in nine years to escape. She sees an American, even a stone cold murder-for-hire American, and she escapes the compound and stows away in his car, willing to risk an unknown future with him over the reality she’s lived with for so many years.
Only what she couldn’t have anticipated is that this man has NO emotions. No feelings. He couldn’t care less that she’s been held captive and he has no intention of straying from his agenda to help her escape. Or at least, that’s what he thinks. Slowly but surely, Sarai breaks through the hard shell that Victor has built since the age of nine, when he was first recruited by the Order to kill for them. It’s the only life he knows, the only life his parents knew, and he’s been taught all his life that to have ties to ANYONE is a liability, a weakness; and he can’t have that, not in his line of work.
Victor and Sarai were incredible characters. Victor’s talent as a killer and his alert, highly-attuned senses to everything and everyone around him were an instant turn-on. And Sarai: she’s broken, so broken, and yet she has a will to survive that defies all odds. Nothing scares her; well, nothing except an uncertain future without Victor, and she is persistent and vulnerable and incredible. I loved them, I loved their journey, I loved the incredible, powerful tale that J.A. Redmerski weaved and I am awe struck and OH SO GRATEFUL that there’s a sequel. Somehow I missed that when I was picking up the book, that this was a series, but OMG I am so glad! And the teaser of what is to COME???? I’m so excited I could scream. Shout. Jump up and down and dance for joy.
REVIVING IZABEL is sure to be a page-turner and I’ve got my calendar marked in permanent marker for the release date on December 10th!!! Husband might have to take a day off of work because it’s a Tuesday and there’s no way I can take care of the kiddos when this book comes out!
Squee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me? I am on such a high right now – I can’t believe I just had the pleasure of reading EMERGE – it was soSquee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me? I am on such a high right now – I can’t believe I just had the pleasure of reading EMERGE – it was so good!
EMERGE is all about the love triangle – but usually I know from very early on who I want the girl to choose – I may feel bad for the other guy – but there is almost ALWAYS a clear winner for me. Not. This. Time. I cannot fault Laney for one second of her debating, one second of her waffling, because I was right there with her! How do you choose between perfection? How does she pick when both guys are so different and yet so amazingly made just for her?
Evan is the guy who has always stood by her, always looked out for her—her first love and her best friend.
There’s nowhere in the world like Evan’s embrace. It’s here and only here that I find total acceptance, unconditional love, and a man’s desire for only me.
He is romantic and respectful and he knows exactly what he has in Laney and has no intention of ever letting her go. As a built, attractive football player he’s had plenty of girls throw themselves at him, but he has only ever had eyes for Laney. When Laney and Evan get athletic scholarships to two separate schools, he is disappointed but determined that they will be able to survive the long distance. Laney on the other hand makes the ultimate sacrifice in the hopes of keeping Evan’s love in the long term. She isn’t willing to risk him cheating on her and possibly ruining everything, so instead she decides to set him free – that way if he gets weak or tempted, she won’t have to hate him for it for the rest of her life. They go to their separate colleges, single, but still very much involved.
Then she meets Dane. Dane is a mystery—a drop dead gorgeous, anyone would fall at his feet drooling, mystery.
Dane turned to us, and Good Lord…I hope their parents are breeding professionally because they’d make a fortune! If big brother is hot, then little brother is illegal, immortal, and too damn pretty not to be a girl. This guy seriously belongs on the cover of “World’s Sexiest Reasons to Drop Your Panties.”
But he’s not just the mysterious bad boy. He also gets her – innocence, shyness, and all. He respects her and he is so head over heels for her he’s even willing to put up with her confusion and guilt over her feelings for Evan; well, up to a point anyway.
“I won’t share you, Laney. Not your lips, not your thoughts, not your body, and especially not your heart. You don’t have to give it all to me just yet, but give me nothing if any of it belongs to him. Do you understand?”
And the way Dane talked… OH MY panty dropping hotness. He could talk. He would ask Laney what random friend she was with and I’d be a melting puddle on the floor. And don’t even get me started when he asked what she’d done with Evan sexually. I didn’t know there was a sexy way to ask about someone’s past sexual experiences – but apparently I just have No. Idea. Everything from his caveman thoughts to his domineering personality had me swooning.
I was so happy with all three of the main characters (Laney, Evan & Dane) for their openness and honesty. You know when you’re reading a book and you’re like, that is such a stupid misunderstanding, just say something?!? Well they would just say it, call each other out, and get over it! I loved not having to deal with stupid immaterial drama just for angst sake!
This book had me bouncing on my chair in suspense – guessing certain things and then praying with all my might that I was wrong. I worried, I wondered, and mostly I just felt all the agony that a decision like choosing between Evan and Dane was. Despite my pain, I did finally have a preference and I fell completely and unequivocally in love. I loved where Laney ended up – was so happy and ecstatic, all the way up until I felt the pain it would be to not be chosen and then I hated her for putting anyone through that. But that is what it was to be immersed in EMERGE – I could so completely emphasize with each of the characters that I could be 100% on board until I was 100% not. S.E. Hall has truly created the perfect love triangle – where everyone has a legitimate vie for the win and the reader can completely understand each character’s emotions. I loved this book, I loved the journey it took me on, the ending, and most of all I LOVE that it’s not over! I’m only days away from getting my hands on EMBRACE and I just can’t wait!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
Yes. Yes. A million times yes. Kylie Lord may know how to get herself into a sticky situation, but I sure enjoyed her recipe for disaster.
Kylie LordYes. Yes. A million times yes. Kylie Lord may know how to get herself into a sticky situation, but I sure enjoyed her recipe for disaster.
Kylie Lord has been in love with her best friend, Trent, since college. A do-gooder and humanitarian, Trent is out rescuing the world and not very likely to settle down any time soon. His best friend and foster brother, Dray, has been the bane of Kylie’s existence for as long as she’s known Trent, but she puts up with him for Trent’s sake. He is, after all, the only family Trent has. So when Dray sustains a dangerous football injury and Trent can’t leave Africa to be by his side, he calls Kylie to take care of Dray in his absence. Only, the concussion seems to have affected Dray’s brain because suddenly he’s stopped the dirty innuendos and crude requests and exchanged them for a sweet, sensitive, and lovable guy that Kylie finds herself lusting after despite her best efforts to ignore her feelings.
As Kylie takes care of Dray for the two weeks he’s on bed rest, they develop a camaraderie and friendship, not to mention an extremely intense physical attraction. When Kylie tries to leave after Dray is cleared for activities, he swoops in and they begin an incredibly hot and sexy friends-with-benefits affair.
I loved how possessive and alpha male Dray could be. I also loved how much he truly cared for Kylie, despite what he would say to indicate he was only in it for the sex. But of course, you can’t have a love triangle without a third person so Trent returns and everything hit the fan. I could completely empathize with Kylie’s decisions and her confusion. While as a reader I was 100% Team Dray, in real life I know what it’s like to have a chance at your long time crush and how hard it is to let those dreams go. So while I felt like I was watching a horror film where I was screaming, “No, stop, turn around! Don’t go through that door! Don’t you know what will happen?!?”, I still understood why she had to try it. The only thing I would have liked a little different was the ending. I wish instead of an epilogue, we’d gotten to experience the ending in real time. I think it could have been epic. But I’m not complaining too much, because I loved every second of Kylie’s story and especially all the steamy Kylie and Dray sex during the book.
Nicole Reed delivered a phenomenal story in CAKE and I’m hoping there might be a Madison story in my future!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
A 5 star review for me is a feeling – it goes beyond meeting certain criteria I deem to be important and creates that indescribable feeling I getA 5 star review for me is a feeling – it goes beyond meeting certain criteria I deem to be important and creates that indescribable feeling I get reading certain books that take me to another place. It makes me feel, and makes me never want to finish but unable to stop reading either. I cannot tell a writer how to create that feeling any more than an author can tell me how I should feel about a book. DEEPER did that for me. DEEPER for me is about broken people who are struggling to stay afloat, barely living, until they find someone equally broken who finally allows them to feel again – and maybe, with any luck, to one day heal.
I loved how possessive Knight was – how controlling. You see this in plenty of adult novels these days, but not so much in New Adult, and I adored it. I thought it was the perfect amount of assertive sexiness without going over the top. Knight couldn’t help but want to protect Rain – and Rain couldn’t help but put herself in danger in order to protect everyone else. Perfect fucked up combo. And I’ve never really noticed how great swimmers bodies were before – but now it’s all I can think about!
Why did I spend all of my college weekends at football games when I could have been at swim meets? What was I thinking? Why were my priorities so out of whack? The way Rain described Knight and his ken doll lines made me swoon!
Sorry, where were we? Oh yah, I’m writing a review of DEEPER, not just thinking about perfect male abs. Another thing I loved about this book were the lines (not the ken doll lines - though those were definitely a favorite - but the quotes) - they were angsty, deep, touching and romantic.
She’s trying to cut me loose to protect me. But it’s like she’s running me over with a small train to avoid possibly running me over with a bigger one.
Some things are worth fighting for. And even though I know the price of a fight fought and lost, I want to fight this fight for her.
I felt every emotion these characters expressed – I believed it, lived it, knew it like I knew myself. I could completely identify with their pain – and why they made the choices they made. And I absolutely fell in love with their love story. Their broken, twisted love story. I also really liked the two points of view – I thought it flowed well and was a perfect way for the reader to embrace both characters and their feelings/emotions equally.
I wouldn’t have minded if the intimate scenes were a little more descriptive. I’m not asking for a lot, I thought it was really well done and I could feel the heat – but if Rain is asking if what they just did could be considered sex and I thought the lowest he got was kissing her belly button, you can see where I might be confused. A few extra details might have clarified some of that for me.
All in all, I thought this was a spectacular display of a broken love story – call me a glutton for punishment but this angsty, dark love story was the perfect read for me and I’d love to spend more time with Rain and Knight!
**Copy provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Talk about starting out with a bang and not stopping until the last page! HIS WICKED GAMES had me from the summary and I am thrilled to say it did notTalk about starting out with a bang and not stopping until the last page! HIS WICKED GAMES had me from the summary and I am thrilled to say it did not disappoint!
The summary itself is mysterious and leaves a lot to the imagination. Since part of what propelled me to read the book right away was how intriguing the summary was, I don’t want to spoil any of the suspense by giving away the storyline—just trust me when I say it’s everything it promises and so much more.
What I can tell you is the feelings I experienced—I literally felt like I was Lily as I experienced every emotion she went through.
Calder had me sexually frustrated,
“My restraint only goes so far,” he says. His eyes bore into mine. “I want you, Lily. I want to fuck you until you can’t move, until you can’t think, until you’ve forgotten everything else but me. It won’t be gentle. If you don’t want that, then tell me, and I’ll leave this car. But if I stay… I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to control myself.”
on pins and needles,
“You mean that I’m required to have you in my possession.” The way he says that final word sends a tiny thrill through me.
in love,
The passionate, dominant Calder I can handle—the one who leaves bruises on my skin and shoves my shirt into my mouth to keep me silent—but I don’t know how to deal with this gentler version of him.
His hands move down across my skin slowly, delicately, as if I’m a precious, breakable thing that might shatter at his touch.
Maybe this is just sex. And maybe I don’t really know him all that well. But there’s a part of me, deep down, that knows I’ve glimpsed a deeper side of him, however briefly, and I know I’ve exposed a bit of myself to him, too. And that terrifies me.
and then depressed when I was waiting for his call.
“Are you my therapist now?” he demands. “What, we fuck for a couple of days and suddenly you think you can see into my soul or something?" I stagger back, feeling like he’s slapped me across the face. But he’s not done. “You expect me to open up to you,” he says, raking his hand through his hair, “but you’re in such denial about your own baggage that you don’t even realize that you’re the one pushing away. That ex sure screwed you up something good.”
I WANT Calder! I want to throw him in a box and steal him away to my house to play all of HIS WICKED GAMES!
This book was like the roller coaster you never want to get off of – it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time and when I wasn’t reading it, I was fangirl squealing about it to anyone who would listen! The story has a new adult/self-discovery feel to it; but then there are also scenes that are most definitely erotic romance: envelope pushing scenes that in other books I might have squirmed uncomfortably while reading, but in this case I could not only imagine and feel, I found myself caught up in the moment.
The story had a well-developed arc, a perfectly described setting, and characters that not only had depth and substance but that I wanted to be a part of. HIS WICKED GAMES truly had me hypnotized and caught in the suspense of its sexy games. This book will be released on June 11th and it looks like a novella will be published soon after. Do yourself a favor and get in line because it’s a hot, steamy ride you won’t want to miss!
**Copy provided by the author for an honest review.
Every so often I come across that perfect book that exemplifies why I read in the first place. Books that suck me in and I am so deeply entranced thatEvery so often I come across that perfect book that exemplifies why I read in the first place. Books that suck me in and I am so deeply entranced that I can’t hear, see, or feel anything going on around me – I am simply transported into the book and immersed in a world created by the author. HOPELESS is one of those books for me.
HOPELESS is the perfect combination of passionate love story and heartrending life events. It had me laughing out loud so hard I howled – then a few chapters later it had tears streaming down my face. It had so many amazing quotes that I highlighted almost an entire book worth of my favorites. And Sky and Holder’s first kiss – where they never even kissed??? Most. Passionate. Book. Experience. Ever. And they didn’t even KISS! There are simply not enough words for how amazing Colleen Hoover’s writing is – every book I’ve read by her has taken so much, but given even more.
I loved Sky – she was sassy and independent and vulnerable. I understood her emotions and felt them like they were my own. And Holder? I don’t know if there are words to describe the perfection that was Holder. Even the smaller characters like Six and Brecken were funny and witty and perfect compliments to the story.
This book broke my heart – but more importantly it made me fall in love. It was passionate and painful and beautiful and so incredibly written I’m thankful I got to read it. Thank you Colleen Hoover for digging so deep and giving us this piece of magic.
Despite what this may look like, I am not a slut. Unless, of course, the definition of slut is based on the fact that I make out with lots of people, regardless of my lack of attraction to them. In that case, one might have grounds for debate.
He turns around to tend to the pasta like he didn’t just ruin me for any other guy for the rest of my life.
If words could break souls, my words just broke his in two. His face drops and tears fill his eyes. I know what I’m asking him to do and I hate that I’m asking him for this, but I need it. I need to do whatever I can to minimize the pain and the hatred in me.
And while I could sit here and feel sorry for myself, wondering why all of this happened to me…I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to wish for a perfect life. The things that knock you down in life are tests, forcing you to make a choice between giving in and remaining on the ground or wiping the dirt off and standing up even taller than you did before you were knocked down. I’m choosing to stand up taller.
**Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
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